What’s Causing Your Back Pain
There are plenty of possible causes for a hurt back. Overuse, especially without proper stretching, can strain your back. Or you may UNDER use your back. If you have a job where you sit all day, your back muscles and buttox muscles may be weak, and not provide proper support to your spinal cord. Poor posture can put a lot of pressure on the lumbar spine .
You may also have a medical condition that causes pain, like spinal stenosis . Sciatica pain is a fairly common cause for back and knee problems. You may have chronic pain from something like osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. Without management, the pain can start affecting your knees, hips, and ankles.
A back injury may be one of the more concerning causes of back pain. Any injury to your back or spinal cord could cause some serious damage. If you’ve had a recent back or spine injury, make sure to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.
Know The Source Know The Solution: Treating Back Pain And Hip Pain
Once your pain is identified as truly originating in your hip or in your low back, your doctor will work with you to craft a treatment plan to address it. In many cases, this regimen will include medication to reduce inflammation and pain, and a specially designed physical therapy program to teach you movements, stretches, and physical activities to help alleviate symptoms and prevent them from returning. Depending on the nature of your pain, your doctor may also recommend lifestyle modifications to treat your pain. For both spine pain and hip pain, surgery is rarely necessary and viewed as a last-resort treatment option.
Jones HR, Burns TM, Aminoff MJ, Pomeroy SL. Pain. Chapter: Diagnosis of Low Back, Buttock, and Hip Pain. Netter Collection of Medical Illustrations: Spinal Cord and Peripheral Motor and Sensory Systems, Section 8, 201-224.My Hip Hurts: Or Is It Back Pain? UPMC HealthBeat. https://share.upmc.com/2014/09/hip-hurts-back-pain/. Published September 8, 2014. Accessed July 8, 2019.Nall R. What causes lower back and hip pain? Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/325433.php. Last reviewed June 10, 2019. Accessed July 8, 2019.Oh, My Aching Back Or Is It My Hip? Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/oh-my-aching-back-or-is-it-my-hip/. Published August 25, 2015. Accessed July 8, 2019.
You Experience Knee Pain Accompanied By Back Pain
If youre experiencing knee pain either as a one-off occurrence or an ongoing problem, take the time to think about whether youre experiencing pain anywhere else in your body. Even if the two seem unrelated, its worth noting the pain and discussing it with your spinal specialist.
Back pain causing knee pain is more common in people who sit a lot, so if you work a desk job or spend a lot of time in your car or on planes, its worth investigating. Remember, the back pain may not seem as severe as the knee pain it may even just feel like tight muscles.
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You Experience Sciatic Nerve Inflammation Symptoms
Can sciatica cause pain in your knee? Yes. Your sciatic nerve is actually five separate nerves that pass through your spine, into your buttocks, and then travel down the back of each leg through your knee. Because the sciatic nerve is responsible for sensory and motor functions, its unsurprising that sciatic issues can lead to pain anywhere along its neural pathway including the knees.
Sciatic nerve pain can cause a variety of other symptoms as well, including:
- Muscle tightness in the hamstrings, quadriceps or hips.
- Muscle spasms in your back or legs.
- A burning sensation in the back of your legs.
- Loss of bladder or bowel control.
Can Swimming Cause Knee Pain
It is not always high impact sports people that end up with knee pain. Knee pain is also very common in swimmers, especially in breaststroke specialists. At Blackberry Clinic we see a big variety of sports people of all ages and abilities. We have the diagnostic facilities and expertise to make sure you return to your beloved sport as quickly as possible. Book in with one of our physios, chiropractor or osteopath to start on the road to full recovery and optimum performance. This article covers the reason for swimming associated knee pain and what you can do about it.
Knee pain is often associated with running and jumping ie. high impact sports. Swimming is perceived as one of the safest sports to participate in, because the water takes the weight off the lower limb joints. However, knee pain is common among people who perform a lot of breaststroke swimming, which is why its often known as Breaststrokers Knee. Whether you are a breaststroke specialist or not, 3 out of every 4 swimmers report breaststroke knee pain. The breaststroke kick is hardly a natural movement and can trigger knee pain in all swimmers. Though non-specialists may be at risk due to lack of conditioning for the kick, specialists may have an even higher risk due to much greater breaststroke training volume. Although eliminating all breaststroke knee pain may be unrealistic, you can take steps towards reducing its occurrence.
WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR KNEE?
WHAT DO YOU FEEL?
THE CAUSE AND HOW TO SOLVE IT
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Why Is Bed Rest Recommended
Bed rest is often recommended in order to allow the injured area to heal without any further stress. The amount of bed rest prescribed by your doctor will vary according to your condition. Your physician may also recommend dry or wet heat. Occasionally, cold, such as ice massage, may be effective in the temporary relief of acute muscle spasm.
What Causes Hip Knee And Back Pain
A worker with back pain.
The quick answer is our bodies are connected by muscles, ligaments, nerves and bones acting as building blocks to our bodies. Ligament stability, muscle strength, joint mobility and the ability of the nerves to operate without irritation or blockage are vital to normal function. Due to the back, knee, and hip connection, back pain can be a result of numerous orthopedic problems.
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Can Knee Pain Cause Back Pain
The quick answer is yes. 2010 the Global Burden of Disease revealed that low back pain was the single leading cause of disability worldwide. There are several factors that can cause back pain including:
- Sports injuries.
- General lower body weakness.
knee injuries affecting the back
A few of these examples are specific to injuries related directly to the back, however, some of the others are in reference to injuries of different body parts that can affect the back.
Who Gets Neck Pain
About two thirds of the population have neck pain at some time in their lives,w5w6 and prevalence is highest in middle age. In a general practice survey of adults in the United Kingdom, 25% of women and 20% of men reported current neck pain.w7 In a Norwegian survey of 10000 adults, 34% of responders had experienced neck pain in the previous year.w8 After back pain, neck pain is the most frequent musculoskeletal cause of consultation in primary care worldwide. In the UK about 15% of hospital based physiotherapy and in Canada 30% of chiropractic referrals are for neck pain.w9w10 Epidemiological studies of neck pain are mostly based on questionnaire or population surveys and may overestimate the frequency of the condition. Despite these methodological difficulties, they do provide evidence that neck pain places a heavy burden on individuals, employers, and healthcare services.
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Wear And Tear Of The Knees
The back and knees are true workhorses of our bodies, but its difficult to remain a thoroughbred forever. As time takes its toll, or as we lose core strength, our backs can become achy and sore.
To compensate for a sore back, you may find ways of adjusting your posture or gait to relieve pressure. The problem is, as you take the pressure off your back, you are applying it to the knees and other parts of your body.
An achy back, worn down from years of wear and tear, can throw your gait off-track forcing your knees to absorb the brunt of the work. If this is the case, you can expect knee pain. An orthopedist or musculoskeletal specialist is the best physician to see to help treat this type of pain.
What Are The Complications
Cervical spondylosis can be complicated by myelopathy or radiculopathy, although cervical disc prolapse, plexopathy, motor neurone disease, or other diseases can cause similar symptoms magnetic resonance imaging, electrodiagnostic tests, and other investigations may be needed to exclude other diagnoses. Neurological complications can occur in established cervical spondylosis or can be the presenting feature of the disease.
Myelopathy causes clumsiness of the hands or gait disturbance, or both, as a result of sensory ataxia or spastic paraparesis of the lower limbs, with bladder dysfunction being a late symptom. Examination of the upper limbs may show an increase in tone, with a pronator catch or increased tone in finger flexors . Wasting and fasciculation of biceps or triceps are occasional findings. The lower limbs usually show an increase in tone with spasticity, but little true weakness. Tendon reflexes are characteristic, with reduced or even inverted biceps or supinator jerks , and an increase in triceps jerks, finger jerks, and all lower limb reflexes, with upgoing plantar responses. A positive Hoffmans sign and ankle clonus are also common findings. Sensory changes vary, but tend to affect vibration and joint position sense in the hands more than the feet.
Fig 3 Dermatomal distribution of cervical and upper thoracic nerves
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Is Surgery Necessary For Sciatica
If, despite doing everything one is instructed to do, the pain continues and the CT or MRI shows a problem with the disc or bone, back surgery may be recommended. Back surgery is generally performed for patients who have tried all other methods of treatment first. There are exceptions to this, such as people with ongoing nerve damage or cauda equina syndrome.
Can Growing Pains Occur In Just One Leg
Usually growing pains occur bilaterally or in both legs. These pains usually occur deep in the thigh or calf in school-aged children. They generally occur at night with resolution by morning. If your child is experiencing pains in just one leg, consider bringing them for medical evaluation. One-sided leg pain can be indicative of infection, musculoskeletal injury or deformity, or other serious conditions such as a tumor.
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You Have Tightness In Your Hamstrings
When you are getting ready to exercise and begin to stretch your hamstrings, do you notice if there is a tightness to it that wont go away despite frequent stretching? If so, this is one of the first signs in the lower extremities which suggest there is a nerve issue in your back causing knee pain.
The hamstrings are a group of muscles located in the back of your thighs. When these muscles are tight, the stability of your lower back is decreased. Stress builds up in the spinal joints and the normal curvature of your lower spine alters itself to adjust to the need. These changes cause lower back pain and stiffness to radiate down the knee and leg. As you move around with tight hamstrings, your knees are unable to function properly and may be damaged.
Hamstring tightness is also linked to a lumbar problem. The L5 nerve travels from the lumbar spine and connects through the outer hamstring muscle to power the biceps femoris. If this nerve is irritated or damaged, the hamstrings will become inflamed or even painful. Your knees will have to adjust when in motion to compensate for the strained hamstring.
After a few weeks of hamstring tightness, the meniscus cartilage in each knee joint will suffer. Your body will mobilize its stem cells to repair the damage but because the trauma is ongoing, the swelling will remain until the root problem is addressed.
Your Knee Pain Is Accompanied By Back Pain
Knee pain accompanied by back pain is the easiest symptom to identify which suggests the deeper problem is with the spine. Even if the back pain is mild or simply feels like some tension and tightness, it should not be disregarded because these signs are both related.
Think back if youve experienced mild back and knee discomfort at the same time, especially if you tend to spend your day sitting down. Sitting shortens the height of the discs along your spine and increases the disc bulge by pushing water out. The pressure on these discs is lowered when youre sitting compared to when youre standing. If youre sitting a lot during the day but have knee and back pains, your spine may be the problem.
Your knees and back are connected by the spinal cord through a nerve branch that controls the lower extremities. If your spine has a pinched nerve or a bulging lumbar disc, the lower back where the nerve branch is located can redirect the pain to the knees. For some people, this is the reason why they only notice the discomfort in the knee but not in the back.
If youre experiencing acute or chronic knee pain, make a mental scan of your body for discomfort in other areas — even if it seems completely unrelated. Let your physician know about these other aches so they can make a fully informed diagnosis.
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What Do I Need To Know About Neck Anatomy
You dont need to memorize the physiology and anatomy of your neck to improve its function and reduce pain, but its helpful to have a general understanding of your cervical spine.
Neck mobility is matchless. Although you wont get any Exorcist-style head spinning, it is capable of moving the head in many directions: 90° of flexion , 90° of extension , 180° of rotation , and almost 120° of tilt to either shoulder.
But all that mobility comes at the cost of complexity. First youve got your seven vertebrae , each cushioned by an intervertebral disc and connected by facet joints. There are also 32 muscles, plus the tendons that attach them to bones, that help move and stabilize the neck, as well as a number of ligaments attaching bones to each other. Thats a lot of action in a comparatively small area.
When To See A Doctor
If you are experiencing chronic pain or pain more associated with serious injury, see your doctor promptly. Not addressing your pain properly can lead to increased pain, joint damage, and disability. Depending on the cause of your knee pain, your doctor may suggest the following treatments:
- Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to help relieve pain in the back of the knee and swelling and treat underlying conditions like arthritis.
- Physical therapy: Your doctor may prescribe stretching exercises or a physical therapy/rehabilitation program to help you restore range of motion, strength and stability to your knee.
- Injections: In some situations, your doctor may suggest injecting medications and other substances directly into the knee joint in order to reduce inflammation, lubricate the knee and promote healing.
- Surgery: If conservative measures do not provide relief, your doctor may recommend surgical options.
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How Does The Body Respond To Stress
When faced with danger, a chemical reaction occurs in your body which allows you to act quickly. This reaction, also known as the fight-or-flight or stress response, is your bodys way of keeping you safe from harm. Unfortunatelythe body cant always discern between a legitimate threat and the pressure of daily life.
Any stressful situationfrom narrowly avoiding a head-on collision to being stuck in a traffic jamcan trigger this response causing the heart rate to increase, blood pressure to rise, and muscles to tighten.
Does Back Pain Cause Knee Pain
As one of the most complex joints in the body, the knee allows the entire leg to move, flex, and have a good range of motion. Meanwhile, with its vertebrae and shock-absorbing discs, the back has a myriad of responsibilities it holds you physically together and secures the high-speed conduit for your complex and delicate nervous system.
Together, the knees and the back provide flexibility, motion, and support. However, they also rely on each other to maintain balance and equilibrium. Therefore, when your back hurts, so might your knees.
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What Can You Do To Prevent A Pinched Nerve In The Knee
Things you can do to prevent a pinched peroneal nerve include:
- Avoid behaviors and activities that cause it such as crossing your legs, frequent squatting, and wearing knee-high boots.
- Tell your doctor if a cast or brace feels tight or is causing numbness or pain in your leg.
- Use devices that softly hold your ankles to prevent leg rotation during prolonged bed rest.
- Reposition yourself frequently during prolonged bed rest to avoid continuous pressure on the side of your knee.
Can Back Problems Cause Knee Pain
In a word: yes. But it gets more complicated than that. The line from back pain to knee pain may not always seem easy to draw. Can back injury cause knee pain? Can a pinched nerve in your back cause knee pain? Can lower back pain cause hip and knee pain? The answer to all these questions is yes. But how?
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Treatment Tips You Can Follow To Manage Knee Pain
Depending on your physicians diagnosis, they can create a specific treatment plan which will address the root cause of your problem and help you relieve knee pain. Surgery is often not the first option a specialist will propose for your treatment.
You can expect your doctor to recommend physical therapy, postural correction, and self-care to help you heal. Here are a few treatment tips you can follow to help you care for your body: